Visions of Terror

Excellent Barbara Eden film A must for fans.
A very entertaining drama starring Barbara Eden. Superb quality print. The companion piece is Visions Of Murder co-starring James Brolin, also
highly recommended.

"He's A Few Froot Loops Short Of A Bowl!"...
Dr. Jesse Newman (Barbara Eden- VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, THE WOMAN HUNTER) is a psychologist who receives "psychic flashes". After a cop (Michael Nouri) loses his partner to a ruthless serial murderer, he becomes Dr. Newman's patient. She begins having visions of the incident, apparently seeing through the eyes of the victim. She starts sleuthing around on her own, finding clues that help to flesh out what happened. Jesse soon sees that things just might be a bit more complicated -and far more dangerous- than they seem. As she pieces the puzzle together, it's increasingly clear that something just isn't right. VISIONS OF TERROR is an above average made-for-TV mystery / thriller that is a great showcase for Ms. Eden's dramatic skills. Especially recommended to those who only know her from I DREAM OF JEANIE...

barbara eden returns, as a psychologist with psychic abilities...
After having played psychologist Jesse Newman in the TV movie Visions of Murder (1993), Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie, Harper Valley PTA) reprises her role, in Visions of Terror (1994)(aka Eyes of Terror). Newman, who has some psychic abilities, gets involved in the investigation of the death of a San Francisco cop, when she is brought in to counsel the dead man's partner (Michael Nouri).

There are a number of familiar themes, as Jesse has flashes of insight, and begins to take a more active role, while also trying to be a good mother to her daughter Kimberly (Missy Crider). Dependable Barbara Eden, gives a good performance, and the story stays fairly grounded, until the very end, when Newman and her daughter are threatened. The lack of action or violence...

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Santa Claus: The Movie 25th Anniversary Edition

Best Santa Ever!
The man who plays Santa in this movie is the cutest, sweetest, most magical Santa Claus ever captured on film. I swear to this day...this man IS the real Santa. They could not have done a better job in casting this film. I get goosebumps every time they show Santa take off in the sleigh for the first time. Outstanding movie!!

Wonderful DVD version is widescreen
Anyone buying a copy of this film should really get the wide screen DVD version. The flying sequences are so much better in widescreen as are the scenes in the North Pole toy factory. The "full frame" pan and scan version just can't hold a candle to the widescreen (I have both so have carefully compared them.)

There is an excellent director's comment track with questions being asked by the Special Projects Consultant for Anchor Bay (the company distributing the DVD) and answered and expanded upon by the director, Jeannot Szwarc. It is worth the price of the package alone. However there is also a great "making of" feature that was produced as a TV documentary at the time of the theatrical release of the film.

This is a really great Christmas film for the whole family. The first hour telling the story of how a simple wood cutter and toy maker become Santa Claus is completely charming. David Huddleston is a wonderful Claus. Dudly Moore is excellent as the elf,...

A Wonderful Christmas Movie
This is one of my favorite Christmas movies. It brings the legend of Santa Claus to life in a grandiose way (i.e. great Hollywood special effects and wonderful musical score!) This movie was produced by the Salkinds (which probably explains why some of the flying sequences are similar to the Superman movies.) I just recently found it is available now on DVD. The DVD gives you four movie trailers and a very interesting hour-long behind the scenes making of "Santa Claus: The Movie." It also has director's commentary, if you like that. Buy the widescreen version. Ever since owning a DVD player, I have enjoyed watching movies presented widescreen. I hate to see them "fit to screen," because it cuts so much out of the picture. The score is by Henry Mancini and is just magical, especially "Sleigh Ride Over Manhattan"! This is a wonderful Christmas movie that you and your family will enjoy for years to come!!

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Don't Drink The Water

Forty Year old Water never tasted so sweet
What can you say to a forty year old comedy that seem as funny today as it did then. Don't Drink the Water is still a gem of a film. Water's screenplay was written by Woody Allen. It has all the trapping the Allen himself would use in his future screenplays which he would direct. The film is character driven and not action driven, something Allen did in the films in the beginning of his career.

This is the basic plot of the story . The Hollander family's European vacation is interrupted when their plane has to take a forced landing in Bulgaria. The Hollanders (Jackie Gleason in his best role pre-Smokey and the Bandit role and Estelle Parsons) leave the plane to take a few pictures. This results in accusations of The Hollander's and their daughter as spies. On the lam from the Bulgarian soldiers, they take refuge in the American Embassy under the protection of the absent ambassador's hapless son (Ted Bessell).

So, if you want great laughes get this film. I...

FINALLY!
Thank you Lion's Gate for acquiring the rights to Avco-Embassy's 'Don't Drink the Water'! I have been waiting for a very long time for this title to come to DVD and this March it finally will! In its original SCOPE widescreen presentation no less!

Brilliant send-up on the Cold War
Jackie Gleason, a caterer from New Jersey, and his family get trapped behind the Iron Curtain while on vacation. The local spy chief is convinced that Gleason is a US spy. The family takes refuge in the US Embassy and is assisted by a young, bungling State Dept officer ("Donald", from "That Girl") who falls in love with Gleason's goofy daughter. A hilarious send-up on the Cold War, spying, mis-reading, & incompetent bureaucracy. ("The Simpsons" episode in Australia is borrowed from here, no doubt.) One of the best scenes is a "spontaneous" riot against the US embassy by the locals. A classic.

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The Cat's Meow

"Cat's Meow" is the cat's pajamas
"Whodunnit?" This movie tries to answer that -- in 1924, a star-studded boat trip went wrong when someone got shot, and the truth of it was never investigated. This is one thing that might have happened. The actors appear to be enjoying themselves romping through Roaring 20s decadence, but rise to the occasion when genuine acting is called for. It's like an Agatha Christie murder mystery, except no Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot.

A bunch of Hollywood glitterati arrive at a boat belonging to William Randolph Hearst, a rather obnoxious Hollywood mogul. Also on the boat is Marion Davies, Hearst's actress mistress, who is being actively pursued by Charlie Chaplin (who recently got his sixteen-year-old costar pregnant), a cool-and-calm eccentric novelist Elinor Glyn, irritating columnist Louella Parsons, fading superproducer Thomas Ince and his frustrated girlfriend, and a slew of others. Rumors fly about Marion and Charlie's suspected affair, and though Hearst doesn't want to believe it,...

Scandalous Story with Death as Destination...
Cat's Meow is based on events that took place one November weekend in 1924 when the financial mogul William Randolph Hearst (Edward Herrmann) invited a group of celebrities to his yacht. The occasion was to celebrate the birthday of the film producer Thomas Ince (Cary Elwes). Charlie Chaplin (Eddie Izzard) was also among the invitees. There were also some rumors prior to the trip that Chaplin fancied the actress Marion Davies (Kirsten Dunst) who was Hearst's beloved girlfriend. The birthday cruise became an envious love triangle which has death as its destination.

Peter Bogdanovich tells this particular Hollywood scandal in a convincing manner as the story is focused on the love triangle between Hearst, Davies, and Chaplin. The other characters add a lot of intrigue and color to the film as they all have their own motives for being on the yacht. The cast performances are solid and the mise-en-scene elevates the cinematic experience. However, the film never reaches it...

OF WHISPERED LORES AND LOVES
What really happened during this 'scandal' on a yatch where a film producer met his abrupt end amid a wild weekend of booze, charleston swinging, and dope?

We'll never truly know, but the film is a peppy cavalcade of big name stars playing big name stars. It's a character-heavy motion picture so let's discuss the impersonations.

Dunst is the flavour of the month, she makes Davies look like an attractively complex figure. While reflecting the verve of a young privileged woman at an exciting time, she maintains a moral core without really being certain of precisely what she wants, which rings true.

The flamboyant Eddie Izzard was a surprise in the cast but made an atypically understated Chaplin. You see the intelligence and yearning in his eyes, the sly wit dripping from his casual tilts of the head.

Personally, I felt these two were the only admirable actors in the film. The rest of the crew members acted as though they were in a much dopier...

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Ride With The Wind

Ride with the Wind
Craig T. Nelson did a great job in this down to earth American, hart warming, full of love to ride movie. This movie is for anybody who has the PRIDE to be AMERICAN attitude or would like to have it. Thank you, Craig.

Schmaltzy
Really stupid, schmaltzy story that we stuck through to the end just to see the totally predictable ending. Kids would like it and the motorcycle riding was good.

great story
good story it had meaning and a plot seen it when it first came out liked it then and now

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Jane Eyre

A Moody, Evocative JANE EYRE
Oddly enough the Charlotte Bront

Carl Panzram: The Spirit of Hatred and Vengeance

A Great Documentary!
I have enjoyed John Borowski's films for several years and they continually get better. Although, his former documentaries on Dr. H.H. Holmes and Albert Fish are hard to beat, Panzram is visually exceptional and is well researched. This is independent film making at its best. The extras on the DVD are also outstanding. If you are interested in historical documentaries, serial killers, psychology, or just great entertainment--this film is for you! John Borowski is the Ken Burns of serial killers and his films are outstanding. Do yourself a favor and watch this film!

Fascinating documentary
Fascinating, well-made film. Underrated too, since I can't even find it on Flixter or Rotten Tomatoes. Watched it because it was recommended by comedian Bill Burr. And he was right! Excellent documentary!

fascinating, surprising
Borowski is one of the greatest crime documentary film makers of all time, and this third film of his, Panzram, is quite a surprise, as it focuses more on the topic of prison brutality and brutality by the system, including police, school administrators, etc., who created a cruel system where young and innocent individuals are tortured until they become hardened psychopaths. Panzram was evil, but the documentary shocked me because I was able to understand the violence by seeing it in its context- there are a lot of victims in this film, but Panzram is the ultimate victim here, brought up by a violent system where, like Charles Manson, he learned as a young child about power and rape and abuse and violence and manipulation instead of about relationships and love and ways to make this a better world. Panzram was not born a killer, the system made him one, and that is the only logical conclusion I got from this intense, very harsh and tragic true and tragically, avoidable description of...

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Sit and Be Fit Episode #1210

good exercises
Good basic exercises for those who have difficulty walking. More difficult than they look, so a challenge. Good for the wheelchair bound

Thanksto You Sit and Be Fit
I broke my foot in July 2013 and had it in a boot for two months. I found Sit and Be Fit by accident. It is wonderful. I was so happy that I could exercise. It kept me so relaxed, I didn't gain weight, I Lost! These slow moving exercises were so relaxing and refreshing, I didn't get depressed because of my injury. I looked forward to Sit and Be Fit everyday I was on disability. Mary Ann's soothing voice is music and I feel so good after her exercises. She taught me exercises for my fingers, hands, places I never thought about. Thank you Sit and Be Fit. BTW, I do the exercises before I go to bed. I sleep like a baby.



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The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina

Great Family Fun!
My family is full of Disney fans. We have all of the straight to video sequels. We've enjoyed most of them, but they've begun to lose their freshness. We were thrilled to find that Disney was finally making a straigt to video animated film that wasn't a sequel to anything. (for those who don't know, the current animated version of Thumbelina was made by Fox) It's actually a new story, also. Tom Thumb and Thumbelina were kidnapped as children by the owner of a sideshow. Tom escaped and lived a happy life on a farm, but Thumbelina was forced to be a freak in the show. She grows up to be a young woman and is able to escape, meanwhile, Tom says good bye to the family who took him in. When the two stumble across eachother, they set out on a journey for others their size. On there way, they encounter mean bugs, a boy who wants to collect them, and an evil mole king bent on marrying Thumbelina. Jennifer Love Hewit(Party of Five, Heartbrakers) and Elija Wood (Huck Finn, Lord of the Rings)...

it was awsome
the movie is soo cute. i loved it!!! the songs are great special the welcome to my hole!but most of all i liked the songi am so all alone! i think even for a cartoon tom was a cutie pie!i hope the soundtrack is out so i can get it!i watch it about 20 times is good!

Great movie for kids!
Adventurous, funny, melodic, nice story-line. Great movie for those lazy afternoons. See for yourself. Excellent performance by Jennifer Lowe Hewitt in "I am alone" and "I was once alone". You will love it!

(If you don't then you are definitely TOO OLD. Don't watch PG-13s.)

The less-detailed animation is the only cons I could find. My daugther and I loved watching little Tumbelina's journey to find her love and home. The story contains humour (the two moles are strikingly similar (and grotesque) to Pumba and Timon in Lion King), the little people village somehow feels like Snow White and Seven Dwarfs. The songs are worth listening to couple times. You will like the option to play them again (and with lyrics!).

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The Statement

Did I watch the same film as the critics?
I got a chance to watch the much maligned Norman Jewison film The Statement on DVD this weekend.

It's a damn fine film!!!

Without giving too much of the story away, the film is about an old Frenchman (played by Michael Caine) who is on the run throughout the south of France for war crimes he committed back in WWII. He has to excape both investigators and assassins (possibly from a radical Jewish organization) by taking refuge in primarily catholic churches.

It was actually filmed in France in real churches and government buildings. Excellent Hitchcockian cinematography and music. Well paced editing and outstanding acting from Tilda Swinton, Jeremy Northam, Ciaran Hinds, Frank Finlay, Alan Bates...and especially Caine. The screenplay was expertly adapted by Ron Harwood. And, for a film with a pretty low budget, the DVD transfer (anamorphic) is excellent and the 5.1 surround sound is decent.

What's up with the critics? OK, I'm a big Michael Caine fan, but that...

Michael Caine is fantastic in a complex and challenging role
Starring Michael Caine, this 2003 film is based on a real-life story of a Frenchman who conspired with the Nazis and then spent most of his life hiding in Roman Catholic monasteries. It opens with a chilling scene filmed in black and white of seven Jews being dragged from their homes and brutally murdered. Flash forward to 1992. The audience sees a "statement" being typed identifying this wanted man. It's supposed to be placed upon his body after he is murdered. But Michael Caine turns the tables on his stalker and murders the man who is after him.

During the rest of the film, Caine is the hunted, but it is unclear who, exactly is after him. Is it the relatives of the Jews he murdered? Is it the corrupt French police? Is the Church? Or it a person in a high position who is concerned about his political future? Anyway, Caine is on the run. And Tilda Swinton cast as a judge, is trying to find him before he is murdered. The story is confusing. But the emotion is...

Caine does ambiguity well
Although his films aren't always artistic successes, Michael Caine is one of my favorite actors, and at his best when his character is cheekily likable, e.g. in THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING (1975), SLEUTH (1972), SECONDHAND LIONS (2003). Rarely, he plays someone hateful, the most recent coming to mind being SHINER (2000). Here, in THE STATEMENT, his on-screen persona is oddly ambiguous, and it's left to supporting characters to provide the plot's protagonists.

It's June 1942, and a young Vichy French police officer, Pierre Brossard, supervises the round-up and execution of seven Jews by a contingent of German soldiers. After the war, he's charged with murder and collaboration with the enemy, but he escapes from prison, apparently aided by former superiors in the police establishment. Now, it's 1992, and Brossard (Michael Caine) lives in constant fear of exposure. A fervent Catholic, he skulks from French monastery to monastery, wherein he finds refuge with the help of...

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Conflict

Classy crime thriller that really keeps you guessing
"Conflict", starring the always excellent Humphrey Bogart is often dismissed as minor league noir and a fairly ordinary entry in Bogart's sterling collection of film performances. On the contrary I've always found it terrific entertainment that really keeps you guessing and asking questions right up to the final frame. It is a most handsome production with all of Warner Bros. expertise on show in the overall look and feel of the piece and in the excellent performances by the male and female cast members in this story of murder, deceit and mystery.

The film begins with the fifth wedding anniversary for affluent married couple engineer Richard Mason and his wife Katherine (Humphrey Bogart and Rose Habart). To the outside world they appear to be the perfect married couple with everything in life, however in reality Richard is most unhappy with his critical demanding wife and is secretly in love with her alluring younger sister Evelyn (Alexis Smith),who also has strong feelings for...

My Favorite Bogart Movie
I simply can't believe that all previous reviewers only give 3 or 4 stars for "Conflict". It's such a thrilling and brilliant movie, at least as good as "Dark Passage", my other favorite Bogart film. And after having watched more than 95% of all Bogart movies, I seriously think that "Conflict" and "Dark Passage" are a lot better than "The Big Sleep" or "The Maltese Falcon" even though those are considered his best, but I still prefer Conflict & Dark Passage by far! I just find their plots so much more fascinating.
10 stars.

For years and years I was wondering why "Conflict" (and another film noir with Brian Donlevy called "Nightmare" (1942)) are not available on DVD and also are never on TCM. So I finally bought both of them at ioffer.com and I'm happy to have them now at home. It's such a shame that only one third (and not necessarily the best third!) from all old movies ever produced is available on DVD's.

Many call this an unusual Bogart film...
...but it isn't really that unusual if you consider the films Bogart made after "High Sierra" and he began to get meatier film roles instead of the one-note gangster roles Warner Brothers often put him into from 1936 until 1941. Bogart was quite a versatile actor to put it mildly, and this film showcases yet another side of his talents.

Bogart plays Richard Mason, an engineer who is celebrating his fifth wedding anniversary with his wife Kathryn (Rose Hobart). However, Richard and Kathryn have been snapping at each other for the last few weeks. In a bit of a showdown before attending their anniversary party, Richard admits that he is in love with Kathryn's sister Evelyn, and Kathryn admits her short temper has been because she realizes this. Kathryn also states that she would never agree to a divorce. Realize that Evelyn (Alexis Smith) is innocent in all of this as Richard has been worshiping her from afar.

That night, on the way back from their anniversary...

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The Chase

The Stars Shine Bright...Deep In The Heart Of Texas!
This review refers to the DVD widescreen edition(Columbia/TriStar) of "The Chase"...

Marlon Brando and company mix it up big time in a small Texas town that is ready to explode with hatred and jealousy. And what company Brando keeps...Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Angie Dickenson, Robert Duvall, Richard Bradford and the great E.G. Marshall just to name a few. And there's more..directed by the illustrious Arthur Penn, from a novel by Horton Foote, a screenplay by Lillian Hellman and music composed by John Barry, this is one fabulous flick.

The lines are clearly drawn in this small Texas town. Class distinction, racial barriers, generation gaps, social injustice, vigilante justice and forbidden love, are all a big part of this tense story. Bubber Reeves(Redford), a one time resident, has just escaped from prison, and has been accused of a murder he did not commit. He is sought out by everyone from the richest man in town(Marshall),to a drunken mob of vigilantes,...

one helluva chase
A film which tells all the brando detractors that the great man did do a lot of great things in the 60s. The chase is a great movie on the inner demons of a southern town in Texas after the kennedy assasination.

The performances are brilliant, especailly brando who proves to all that he is the greatest actor there ever was and will be. (the scenes between angie dickinson and then his legendary beating up scene are worth the price of a ticket/dvd etc.

The direction is spot on and this movie could have been an all time classic if the director had been invloved in the editing, unfortunately the producer took things in his hand. Arthur Penn has extracted great performances all around.

Brando is in great form and his is the moral fibre which binds the town and in the end that very morality of the sherrif makes him leave the town.

I only whish that the studio has put in some extra features besides the trailor of the movie. That would have been the...

Ballad of Sheriff Calder--and/or Redneck Town USA
I realize I gave this flick 4 stars--but I also have to say that Brando gets the highest rating of 5 stars. This film could have been greater than it was...and it just may bother you for that reason. One of my problems is that it was shot on some studio backlot (probably Universal, as the set looks a lot like the set used for Back to the Future) the other weakness is Robert Redford. You want to see how great Brando was in everything he did? Just try to compare what he does with what others do? Your eyes are always drawn to him, no matter who else is in the scene with the guy--and this film had an all-star cast, too......
The other thing that bugged me about this picture is just this: could a punk breaking out of prison (as does the Redford character in the film) by the name of "Bubber" Reeves (who ends up being falsely accused of murder) cause so much turmoil and havoc in a redneck town like this? (Blame it on the screenwriters... Never read the novel the movie was...

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Bad Santa: Unrated Director's Cut

STAY AWAY FROM DIRECTORS CUT
If you are a fan of Bad Santa, DO NOT BUY THIS DVD. I bought it expecting extended and restored scenes, instead I got a totally different ending and hilarious scenes cut out.
This version ends with the little boy outside trying to clean up the blood on his front steps rather than giving the bully a swift kick in the nards.
One of the scenes cut out is the scene in the gym where Willie and Marcus are trying to teach the little boy how to defend himself. That was one of the funniest scenes in the movie.
The packaging is deceptive. If they had said, "new ending" on the notes, I would have left it alone. It didn't and I wasted my money. I thought I would come on here and post a warning.

The feel-bad hit of the winter
For those of us who can't quite get into the Christmas spirit, "Bad Santa" is a massive preemptive strike against all of the insufferable sentimentality we're going to be subjected to a few months from now. This movie is every bit as entertaining and funny as "School Of Rock," but where "School Of Rock" succeeded through the overwhelming weight of its good intentions, "Bad Santa" (its moderately heartwarming ending notwithstanding) is all about bad intentions. This movie, especially in its powerhouse first half, displays such a commitment to mean-spiritedness that you can't help but love it.

Billy Bob Thornton's safe-cracking department-store Santa Willie is the epitome of ugliness, all the more so because he commits much of his mayhem in his work outfit. Early on we see him getting drunk and throwing up in an alley, and from there he remains in the gutter for much of the movie. He chain smokes, he wets himself in his chair, he fornicates in a dressing room, and above all, he...

Funniest film I've seen in ten years!
Not since "There's something about Mary" have I laughed so hard in a movie theater! I got into one of the preview screenings of this last week in LA and I have to say 90% of the audience was laughing just as loud as me. Let the prudes stay home - this is a film for anyone who wants to laugh till it hurts!

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House Hunting

Hidden Gem
I rent a fair amount of low budget suspense/thriller/horror type movies from Redbox or am scrounging around on Netflix looking for these type of films. Often, I discover movies that are so terrible that I rarely make it through the first thirty minutes to an hour before I turn them off. So, it is always a pleasant surprise to find a film that I will watch all the way through and it is even a bigger surprise when I enjoy the film after completing it. So, I will place my rating within that context. This movie was an absolute hidden diamond on Netflix. A fair amount of the film had a House of Leaves feel in that there is a house where all sorts of strange things happen and the visitors cannot leave. In a nutshell, this film is about two families viewing a home for sale and become trapped in the home by some strange supernatural means. What occurs throughout the rest of the film is the interactions between the characters and their attempt to escape the house and strange things...

Quiet horror done just right!
I'm a horror novelist as well as a huge fan of horror movies but at times I get a little tired of the low budget splatter fests and torture porn films that are so common these days. When I sat down to watch HOUSE HUNTING I honestly didn't know what to expect but was soon pleasantly surprised. For me, this is low budget horror done right. It's has a great plot, excellent acting, wonderful drawn out suspense, and it's creepy as hell to boot. I kept waiting for it to let me down but I enjoyed this movie all the way through. In fact, it gets stronger as it goes on and I absolutely loved the ending. House hunting isn't perfect of course, but if you are searching for something a little different, and prefer quiet horror to bucket loads of blood, I think you'll really enjoy this film. Highly recommended.

Gord Rollo
[...]

ALL ROADS LEAD TO HOME
Two families go look at a house. Charlie (Marc Singer) a banker, is there with his new wife Susan (Hayley DuMond) and teen daughter Emmy (Janey Gioiosa). Emmy of course, doesn't get along with her step mom. The second family is a bit more down to earth. Don (Art LaFleur) and Leslie (Victoria Vance) have a son Jason (Paul McGill) about Emmy's age. He has one leg in a brace, but his other two legs are working fine.

As you can tell by the trailer or write up, the home doesn't let them go. As it turns out they all have their dirty little secrets which come back to haunt them. The film develops slowly as you are unsure what is happening. Are they already dead? Is this a descent into madness (aka "Yellow Brick Road") or just a simple haunting? Or combination?

The problem is that they put too much into the film that when it came time to bring it home, sort of speak, that boredom started setting it. They needed to make the important end scenes as mysterious as the rest...

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I Can't Marry You

Informative touching documentary of same sex relationships.
I watched this on PBS last night and found it charming, informative and hard to forget. Some PBS programs on gay lifestyle are uncomfortable to watch but this does not go beyond polite conversations with couples in long term relationships. There is a wide range, including younger, older, childless, family groups, men and women. While I know of the legal issues this program makes the dificulties very real as you see their children, parents and a couple aging partners dealing with the threats of no legal protection for their bond. I will probably order this for our collection.





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The Millennium Bug

A hidden gem
I am not afraid of bugs, well, except for that huge one in the hallway of my parents house when I was about 7 years old. That one was scary. Bugs make a great topic for creepy Sci-Fi movies. Over the decades we movie-goers have seen giant ants, spiders and locust just to name a few. Gargantuan bugs are pretty chilling because we tend to feel helpless around the normal size version of these critters. How do you handle one the size of a truck? That is the question in "Millennium Bug".

The story goes that every one thousand years this Buick sized bug bores its way out of the Earth to lay its eggs and die. The eggs hatch and the larva stay in the Earth for a thousand years as the cycle continues. Enter the Haskin Family. They have decided to escape all the Millennium frenzy of Dec 1999 and spend New Year's Eve camping deep in the woods of the Sierra Diablos Mountains. All is fine, battery powered Christmas lights are strung, champagne is opened and now they have bedded down for...

IT'S A GIRL!
The Crawford family live isolated and have some inbreeding issues. They are in need of new blood. Enter the Haskin family. This is the plot of a number of "B" slasher films, some far better than others. This one adds the subplot of a Millennium monster, one that appears every 1,000 years. It just so happens his 1,000 year period corresponds to our calendar. It is a rather huge creature with big teeth and killer tentacles.

There is nothing like combining two bad films into one. This one appeared to be designed to be campy, which it achieves in spurts but mostly sputters with stupidity. The researcher wore a "Crocodile Hunter" hat and mimicked him far too slightly to be effectively funny and campy. The dialouge during the early character build up phase of the Haskin family was boring. It was simply poorly scripted.

A borderline rental.

Parental Guide: F-bomb, near sex. Groped woman. Brief nudity that was rather ugly. Christine Haeberman tied up in...

AMAZING MOVIE!!!!!!!!!
Everything about this is amazing, the effects, the lack of cgi, the MONSTER SUIT! The movie, even without the monster is really entertaining, the rednecks, although repulsive, are very entertaining and they did a great job of getting me to root for the family, once the monster shows up though, it just turns incredible! Lets hope for some sequels, or at least more movies like this.

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True Believer

"A good fight is one y'win!"
James Woods is erstwhile civil liberties attorney Eddie Dodd, his idealism long since forsaken for 4th Amendment violation-under-every-bed cynicism, & Rbt. Downey, Jr., is his summer intern (well, autumn intern) Roger Barron. Woods character based loosely on Frisco criminal def. lawyer J. Tony Serra.

Dodd's conscience-bending guilt submits to Roger's yuppie charm, & the two pursue the mysteries of why a young Korean gang member is serving time for murder & now's offed a member of some supremacist cult in prison. Woods's Dodd is light years beyond over the top with this, but an excellent supporting cast (Downey, Jr., ["...so we can get off guilty little pricks!"], Margaret Colin, Miguel Hernandez, & "70s Show"'s Kurtwood Smith as a D.A. with a closet full of diced-up skeletons) & brisk dialog make him seem right @home there. To the paranoid, conspiracy-soaked veteran & witness to the original crime: "Cecil, are you what heroes are made of?" Cecil: "I did two tours in...

True believer
another of those non-mainstream James Woods movies that turns out to be the one you remember forever. I honestly don't know how Woods can get so much emotion into a character.

This is probably his greatest work (with Diggstown right there) and you will be able to experience his characters Frustration, pain, and relief right along side him. A touch of humor to lighten but mostly the best dramatic court scenes and flat out grit will have you recommending this to strangers on the street.

A must for all James Woods junkies!
As a lawyer who has been both prosecutor and public defender, I have to say this is my favorite movie about lawyers and my favorite James Woods performance. I get goosebumps every time I hear his speech about ..."the only good fight is one you win!", said with the passion and spite that only James Woods has perfected. His comment on plea bargaining, that "..this isn't ... Yale, he [the client] doesn't care if we go down but go down nobly. He's looking at 40 years of hard time, and he bet it all on me!" James Woods looks good with a pony tail, and the opening scene where his new intern, played by Robert Downey, Jr., mistakes him for the cocaine dealer is hilarious. So is the scene where Downey tells Woods he is quitting because he is "tired of using exalted legal principles to get off guilty little pricks". (I bet Downey was glad for those exalted legal principles in his own case.) I have to disagree with the comment that this movie realistically portrays the "insidious...

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Perdie Across America - Chapter 1

PERDIE DVD 1- Integrity and Principle
Perdie's first DVD is a true to the core challenge to any and all, no matter your political views. The presentation of content is honest, genuine and un-staged by Matthew. Viewing the Story, I felt, at times, I was right there with Him. We look forward to seeing the next releases. Great work Perdie! Keep on keeping on challenging all Americans to their core.
L Williams
Mississippi





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Blood Was Everywhere

Two Bloody Stumps Up
What makes this film so effective is its setting in a normal everyday world - one in which we all live. These aren't the stereotypical group of teenagers being terrorized by a maniac - the victims could be neighbors, friends or even you.

Original Local Horror
Filled with a cast you cant wait to see bumped off like slasher days of yore. Blood Was Every where will remind you of what slasher movies can be done right.

Save Your Money
We live in the area that the movie was taped. This is the ONLY reason we bought the movie. So wish I could return this and get my money back.

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David Is Dying

Brilliant movie!
Unlike any other movie to come out of the UK, 'David Is Dying' deserves all the international film awards it scooped.

David Is Dying
Is one of the best films I have ever seen! The story is absolutely amazing. Great editing as well. Just a great film all around.



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South of Sanity

Insane!
...In a good way.
It really helps to know that the scientists filming this movie were actually cut off from the rest of the world during the Antarctic winter. It adds a genuine sense of isolation.
In fact, I thought it presented far more dread than "The Thing" prequel.

Great movie!
What a movie. It's all that is good about a fictional documentary! Very realistic and very scary. If like to be scared out of your mind I recommend this movie!

interesting.....
it was interesting. these are not actual actors but people who were wintering over at the ice and then, only those that were willing to participate. therefore, the acting isn't the greatest and it's about halfway between a documentary and a horror flick. some of the horror parts were scary and the gore stuff was reasonably well done. I found myself wishing I had watched "the Thing" instead but it was nice to see this and know it was really filmed at their base.

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Savages

Much better than I expected based on the negative Amazon reviews...
I enjoyed all 132 minutes of this film, although I was reluctant to rent it at first based on some of the negative reviews here. It was one of the better films I've seen in a while. Without getting into the plot (do we really need long, amateur interpretations of the plot?), it was also better than what I expected after viewing the trailer. If you're considering renting it don't hesitate. I'm not recommending purchasing it since it's not the type of movie someone would watch more than once. The entire cast did a great job of making this movie highly entertaining. The supporting roles played by Travolta, Hayek, and Del Toro were superbly done. Most of the negative reviews seem to be from people having higher expectations from Oliver Stone, or from having read the book, but I was simply looking for something worth watching. Thank you for taking the time to read my review.

Grisly cat and mouse thriller
Oliver Stone returns to his most violent movie since "Natural Born Killer," this time focusing on a couple marijuana entrepreneurs and their shared girlfriend. Chon (Taylor Kitsch in his best movie role yet) is a former Navy SEAL who manages to bring back potent marijuana seeds from his tour in Afghanistan. His lifelong friend Ben (Aaron Johnson) is hooked on Buddhism and doing charitable work in Africa. His college degree is in business and botany. How perfect. Together they amicably share a love interest in Ophelia (another surprising performance from Blake Lively), who is known as "O."

As the story centerpiece "O" is the glue that holds things together. She's also the chief weed sampler. The story suggests that this relationship may be a bit more than two boys liking a girl but that question is never quite answered. Hmm. All is well until they get an "invitation" to join a powerful Mexican cartel headed by Elena (Salma Hayek). Saying no is not a good idea, as...

Better than I thought it would be
I was expecting to be disapointed after reading all of the negative reviews. While I can't say that it was a great movie I do think it was very entertaining and I will probably buy the DVD.

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Fire With Fire

YOU GET TO KEEP YOUR FIRST NAME
In Long Beach, there is a turf war going on. Firefighter Jeremy Coleman (Josh Duhamel) is a witness to a murder and has been placed in the witness protection program where he falls in love with a US Marshall (Rosario Dawson). Bruce Willis plays local police chief Mike Cella who would like very much to see crime boss David Hagan (Vincent D'Onofrio) go to jail.

While in the program, the bad guys find out where Jeremy is located and threaten to kill everyone Jeremy knows and their family. Jeremy goes vigilante in order to save himself and everyone else. He also gives us overwhelming clues about the ending.

I liked the climax of the film, in spite of the fact I knew it was coming from 30 minutes into the film. The script was overly predictable and the dialouge wasn't moving. Vinnie Jones gives us a brief bad guy, and likewise 50 Cent wasn't on screen that long. I would have liked to have seen more of Willis in the film.

Might work as a 99 cent rental for...

Definitely Worth Watching -- Nothing Groundbreaking
The reason I deducted one star was because the ending was left open. I hate when a movie leaves the audience with a question, especially if that question pertains to the status of the main characters. It is a fatal flaw that I believe some film makers do not grasp. If I spend 90 minutes or so watching the story unfold, it makes sense that I am interested in something about the story... Since I am interested in the story, it makes further sense that I want to know about the problems the characters are dealing with, how they respond, and what happens to them. Does the cowboy win the battle and the girl and ride off into the sunset? Does ET call home and get through? Does Batman and Robin escape the trap the Joker snared them in? That is why I will tune in tomorrow night, same Bat time, same Bat channel. So it kindly torques my constitution when I give the writer/director my undivided time to follow the story, care about the characters, cheer them on and pray they are victorious...only...

Pretty routine and often bloody cops and robbers
You've seen this flapping turkey before. My biggest complaint is that i bought it instead or renting it via Netflix, cuz this is a one shot deal. Bruce Willis looked like he was on pain killers and never fired a round in this routine good guy on the run from the baddied. I counted three times when the heroes (a fireman who saw murders committed and a nicely-shaped US marshal who falls for the big lug) scuffle and lose their weapons and watch them skid across the smooth floor. Once, maybe, not three times in a movie. Willis could have been replaced with a cardboard cutout and we would have gotten the same visual results. Time for him to retire.
One major plus, the bad guy and his pack of blood-thirsty goons are terrific. They radiate evil and you want them to perish by the sword and slowly. I won't give away the main villain's name but he was in 'Full Metal Jacket' and he was masterful as the head whacko - one problem, not enough mayham by the vicious pack of mad dogs to really...

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Backslasher

ELEANOR JAMES... ENOUGH SAID!!!!
What can I say... I'm a HUGE fan of her... work... Really, she's a very good actress and very easy on the eyes. The story kind of reminds me of Franco a little... A lot of thought went into the script, or a lot of drugs. I haven't quite figured that one out yet... I LOVE HER! Eleanor, will you marry me?

Wow,Almost Takes The Joy Outta The Internet .
Stars: Eleanor James

Freaking,Scary Arse movie,Yo !

IF we were'nt such lemmings to the internet,This movie would make us think twice of logging on.

Truly scary moments with a fetish mask wearing killer with the biggest Bowie Knife ever .

Eleanor as Becca has a website for lingerie and models of and someone is killing off all her friends slice by slice,Ewww !!!

Great poster and theme and cast makes this one a sure to rent and probably getting all your monies worth ,One peek or another.



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Savages (Unrated)

Much better than I expected based on the negative Amazon reviews...
I enjoyed all 132 minutes of this film, although I was reluctant to rent it at first based on some of the negative reviews here. It was one of the better films I've seen in a while. Without getting into the plot (do we really need long, amateur interpretations of the plot?), it was also better than what I expected after viewing the trailer. If you're considering renting it don't hesitate. I'm not recommending purchasing it since it's not the type of movie someone would watch more than once. The entire cast did a great job of making this movie highly entertaining. The supporting roles played by Travolta, Hayek, and Del Toro were superbly done. Most of the negative reviews seem to be from people having higher expectations from Oliver Stone, or from having read the book, but I was simply looking for something worth watching. Thank you for taking the time to read my review.

Grisly cat and mouse thriller
Oliver Stone returns to his most violent movie since "Natural Born Killer," this time focusing on a couple marijuana entrepreneurs and their shared girlfriend. Chon (Taylor Kitsch in his best movie role yet) is a former Navy SEAL who manages to bring back potent marijuana seeds from his tour in Afghanistan. His lifelong friend Ben (Aaron Johnson) is hooked on Buddhism and doing charitable work in Africa. His college degree is in business and botany. How perfect. Together they amicably share a love interest in Ophelia (another surprising performance from Blake Lively), who is known as "O."

As the story centerpiece "O" is the glue that holds things together. She's also the chief weed sampler. The story suggests that this relationship may be a bit more than two boys liking a girl but that question is never quite answered. Hmm. All is well until they get an "invitation" to join a powerful Mexican cartel headed by Elena (Salma Hayek). Saying no is not a good idea, as...

Better than I thought it would be
I was expecting to be disapointed after reading all of the negative reviews. While I can't say that it was a great movie I do think it was very entertaining and I will probably buy the DVD.

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Change of Heart

Very good movie
I love Jean Smart and this movie dealt with a subject that is a sign of our times. Was very well done.

I Love this movie!
This movie is so realistic and I love Jean Smart. I woudl recommend this to my friends. Love, Love, Love

One of my favorites!
This film floored me when it came it and it's just as amazing now. I'm so thrilled to own this. The performances are timeless and the story SO REAL (I guess because its based on a true story, DUH lol) My sister's best friend went through a similar situation, so I'm glad theres a movie out there that captures such a true to life situation. It's a must see!

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The Letter Writer

A beautiful lullaby of a movie
Let me start by saying that I am a guy who enjoys action, adventure and good horror movies, however every once in a while I would come across a rare movie that has the ability to comfort you in a way that reminds you that you have forgotten you could feel this way. The Letter writer is one such film. The movie is simple, honest and not too complicated as a lullaby should be. The core of the story is we attract what we send out in to the world, cheat and lie and you will be surrounded by charlatans and thieves, genuinely love and care and your will be engulfed by serenity and peace. The signature message of kindness and compassion resonates through the entire film. You will be challenged not to cry at several moments during this film. The movie can be enjoyed by all members of the family from 8 to 80. No vulgarity, no violence, etc.

Highly recommend for very feel good movie.

Powerful Message After a Slow Start
When the movie starts it begins to have all of the appearance of a teen-age angst movie and is somewhat hard to tolerate but give it some time, it develops into an effective and powerful movie. This is the story of a young girl from a broken home who is trying to pick up the pieces of her life after her parents' divorce.

For awhile nothing seems to be working for her until a mysterious letter arrives in the mail one day and provokes her curiosity as to who wrote it and why it was written. The latter part of the movie is a voyage of discovery for her as she discovers not only the sender of the letter but the remarkable young girl that has been hidden beneath the surface or her life.

The final message of the movie is a message of hope and promise in the face of difficulties that try to overwhelm life. This is a worthwhile movie with a positive message and I recommend it for the family.

Inspirational
Many years ago I used to write note cards and for what ever reason stopped. This movie not only reminded me of the lives my notes touched but also reminded me of smiles brought by those who received those notes. This movie brought lives together that needed healing, love, and compassion. What a wonderful movie, filled with God's Agape love. We are vessels used by God and this movie showed not only the vessels being used but the transformation it brought. I highly recommended it to all ages.

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A Little Bit Zombie

HE'S NOT A SUPER HERO. HE'S UNDEAD.
Max (Stephen McHattie) and Penelope (TV star Emilie Ullerup) are zombie hunters. They use a directional orb which detects the presence of the undead. Meanwhile two couples are spending a pre-wedding vacation in a cabin. Steve (Kristopher Turner) is an HR rep, a nice guy with a touch of geek. He is going to marry Tina, (Crystal Lowe) a character which reminded me of a flaky Samantha Bee from "The Daily Show." Steve's sister Sarah (Kristen Hager) is going to be the matron of honor. The two women do not get along. Sarah's husband Craig (Shawn Roberts, a down to earth guy, rounds out the foursome.

If you look at the cover and read the title you can surmise Steve becomes a zombie, but not a complete zombie. He is a "resistive host" but still craves human brains.

The film is more of a comedy with a zombie background. George Buza played his minor role well. The film was fun to watch as the two couples attempt to get along when Steve becomes an issue. "Family takes care...

silly zombedy , that is fun..
This movie is a simple zombedy flick that is fun, but you can't take it seriously. It does feature actress from 'being human' and one from 'primeval new world' as well. They both do a good job as you would expect. The male leads are newbies and they are good as well. Steven Hchattie , the old pro actor is in this and he plays a angry zombie hunter who is completely out of his gourd. This is not a real zombie flick of course , but a zombedy , in which a man is bitten by a zombie misquito , and he becomes a brain loving zombie. Like all zombedies the violence is bad but done in a tongue in cheek way. Shotgun blasts leave nice round holes etc in heads and such. The movie is silly , and does feature nudity and a swollen brain like penis shot. But the main focus here is on comedy and it is mildly funny for sure. The action is mainly taking place at a nice retreat cottage , and that's ok for a low budgeter like this one. However this is NOT a c movie , which are made by non pros with no...

A Little Bit Awesome!
A Little Bit Zombie is a horror-comedy that has way more comedy than horror. And I didn't mind. This was a very funny movie, with a good cast. If you're a fan of movies like Shaun of the Dead and Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, you should definitely see this since it's kind of like a combination of the two.

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Crime After Crime

4.5 stars... important movie about an important cause
I was recently looking for a good movie to watch at my local library and stumbled upon this documentary. Not knowing anything more than what I read on the DVD jacket, I decided to to a chance on this. I'm glad I did.

"Crime After Crime" (2011 release; 93 min.) brings the case of Debbie Peagler, an African-American woman convicted in 1983 of murdering her abusive boyfriend. She was sentenced to 25 years-to-life. As the movie starts, we meet two lawyers who take her case pro-bono almost 20 years later to re-examine the facts of the case. Pretty soon it is clear that Peagler was the victim of "women battered syndrome" and should never have been prosecuted for murder, and furthermore that the Los Angeles District Attorney's office made some horrendous mistakes and probably (likely) violated her rights as a defender by withholding evidence. When presented with those facts by the pro-bono lawyers, the DA sends a letter to the attorneys, offering to reduce the crime to voluntary...

A Landmark Documentary
A heartbreaking story of a battered, African American woman trapped in an unjust criminal justice system. In spite of countless setbacks, Deborah Peagler remains strong and selfless, with an unwavering spirit. Debbie's legal team becomes family to her in an emotional battle to save her and other incarcerated survivors of domestic violence. A truly moving and unforgettable film.

eye opening
i viewed this film earlier this year and it is a bomb shell of information on the injustice of the legal system, it should be seen by every law student and incorporated into the curriculum . It's a sad situation that has a bitter sweet ending.

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Sexy Baby

A thoughtful film which makes a good start
Many trends in the last decade in Americans' attitudes with regards to sexual behavior are highlighted in this film. Most of the screen time is given to an articulate young woman named Winnifred. She's really the film's voice although the other women, Laura and Nichole, provide reinforcement on issues like surgery and employment in the sex industry which Winnifred is not old enough to face. Overall I liked the film and recommend it as a way to open a dialogue.

More films need to be made on the ever changing sexual landscape and the effects it is having on all of us. This film is a good start but is a little behind the times, a little timid, and a lot incomplete. The most important for me is the last: for example, the pressures on boys is just as significant (but in different ways) as it is for girls and someone should tell that story. When I say timid I mean that there are really only allusions to specific sexual practices in the film. As an example, anal sex has...

Must See
This excellent documentary provides an essential wake-up call vis a vis the effects of our sexually saturated media, internet, entertainment industry and advertising, especially on young women. The filmmakers skillfully draw us in by focusing on the lives of three disparate women. This is definitely not a "talking heads" movie and avoids taking a specific stand. Rather, it forces its audience to grapple with significant issues and questions. An especially important film for parents, it will have a profound impact on anyone who sees it.

Very powerful
I recommend all parents to view this movie with your children. It is very informative and opens the lines of communication in several different ways.
As a parent you need to be very open minded and really listen to all that is being said.
This movie is a great tool.
Thank you Steve Harvey for being an informed parent.

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American Nightmare 1981

Another Forgotten Sleazefest from 1980's Canada
Scorpion Releasing's Katarina's Nightmare Theater collection continues with their latest release American Nightmare from 1982 (filmed in 1981).

Katarina introduces this film as being one of their most uncomfortable and seedy releases yet and warns the viewer. If ugly people and strip clubs are what she is referring to then you will survive, as the blood is to a minimum here. Some nudity is thrown around but most of it comes from some really gross looking strippers. The "horror" in this film is urban decay and the film does exceed in that department with flying colors. I'm into gritty underground cinema so while I was hoping for a more fast-paced thriller, this film seems to drag on a bit to wallow in the dregs of society. Its a bit oppressive.

Genre favorite Michael Ironside plays a detective after the killer who is offing all the female "talent" in this film. Too bad he isn't given much to do here.

The biggest disappointment is the film quality its...

Gritty City Kitty
American Nightmare
The "Katarina's Nightmare Theatre" range of DVD's from Scorpion Releasing has brought new life to some long forgotten horror gems from the video era, and I for one am very happy about that. I genuinely feel that - despite some snoozers and losers - their overall range is one of the most fan-friendly and interesting on the market today. This film hasn't been available in my neck of the world since the days of videotape, so it's a welcome addition to my collection.
"American Nightmare" is an early-eighties Canadian tax-shelter production from Paul Lynch, the man behind "Prom Night" and "Humongous". It's a grimier film than either of those, and deliberately so. It's not "Maniac" level grimy, and there are some occasional light moments, but overall an attempt has been made here to deglamourize the big city and emphasize its potential to degrade and dehumanize. The story revolves around a murdered young woman from a good family who had fallen into a life of...

Under-appreciated horror thriller
Despite some poor low budget production qualities, AMERICAN NIGHTMARE is a well made and sometimes scary movie about early 80s urban decay that has some neat perspectives to offer that differentiate it from the rest of its kin. A must for slasher or giallo fans.

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What She Wants for Christmas

I'm a Grandmother----> GREAT MOVIE FOR GRANDCHILDREN...
...to watch with their grandma (or grandpa). I give it 5 stars because it keeps children interested. Especially the ones who are waiting for their Christmas gifts and for Christmas to come. It keeps the spirit of Christmas alive in any household. And it also has a very positive and meaningful message.

Cute film for kids!
Super cute story...good for watching with kids during the holidays! Not your most high budget film but definitely worth the buy!

Cute family Christmas movie!
This is a good family movie kids will love. It is in the style of Home Alone. The girl in the movie kidnaps Santa because she does not get what she wants for Christmas.

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Booker's Place: A Mississippi Story

Review of DVD with bonus features - A must see re: race relations in the south
Though the name of Booker Wright is in the title of this compelling documentary, it's really the story of TWO families and THREE generations. I'll try not to spoil your watching of this film (which I highly recommend) by giving you too much information. (I hate spoiler alerts.) But you should know the basics. In 1965, filmmaker Frank De Felitta went to Greenwood, MS (a southern town in which racism was at its highest with many lynchings of blacks by the Ku Klux Klan and where "slavery" still existed - 100 years after the Civil War - in the form of cotton plantation owners virtually "owning" their "employees") to film the current social conditions for NBC News. He found one man - a black waiter - who "spoke his mind". Shortly after the film was aired that waiter (and, later, restaurant owner) Booker Wright was attacked and later murdered (two separate events). It was Wright's granddaughter who, while searching for the film shown on NBC, discovered De Felitta's son, Raymond, who - as...

One Moment Of Truth: An Unlikely Hero Exposes The Reality Of Racism In A National TV Broadcast Circa 1965
Raymond De Felitta's new documentary "Booker's Place" is both a filmmaker's personal journey and an intimate look at an unlikely hero who stepped into the national spotlight during the civil rights struggle. It is a film filled with nostalgia, regret, anger, and pride. De Felitta's father made an NBC documentary in 1965 that featured a stunning sequence in which a Greenwood, Mississippi waiter, Booker Wright, spoke candidly about his treatment as a black man in his town. Wright was no activist, but he clearly placed himself in harm's way by expressing his true feelings. Televised nationally, the piece all but destroyed Wright's life. He lost his job, his business was vandalized, he was brutalized, and he ultimately paid the highest price possible. "Booker's Place" tells the history of this story through archival footage and personal recollections. What makes this an incredibly personal tale is that it is presented by the descendents of those involved. De Felitta joins forces...

A great film
This film was obviously made by passionate film makers. Raymond De Felitta is a wonderful weaver and this story is sadly beautiful. Great music... great information. Great movie.

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Javier Bardem 3-Film Collection (No Country For Old Men / Biutiful / Mondays in the Sun)

Javier Bardem Double Feature (No Country for old men/Biutiful)
Javier Bardem Double Feature (no country for old men/Biutiful)
Very well done. Javier Bardem is excellent in both features.
JB

The other films sucked. No country for old men was good as usual, the other 2 were REALLY foreign!
I don't know what he was thinking in the other 2 movies, No Country for Old Men was really good while the other 2 REALLY SUCKED!



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The Merchant Of Venice

Hits the Mark More Often Than Not
I approached this movie with some trepidation, mainly owing to the presence of Al Pacino as Shylock. The only Shakespeare I had seen him attempt was his lead in Richard III. I was less than impressed by his acting in that one. I'm also always a little queasy about seeing screen attempts at encapsulating a three hour Shakespeare play in a two hour movie.

While I wasn't exactly delighted at the outcome of this attempt, there is a lot to recommend, thanks to some sure handed British directing and acting. And Pacino underplays a role for a change (for the most part) and he handled his line readings with aplomb.

The problem with the script (and it is, along with MEASURE FOR MEASURE and THE WINTERS TALE, one of Shakespeare's "problem" plays to begin with, in that it is morally ambiguous) is the obvious anti-semitism surrounding the moneylender Shylock. The film actually opens with a kind of disclaimer reminding the audience that Renaissance attitudes towards Jews were...

Sure beats my credit card's terms
After the high school English Lit experience, I've never been a Shakespeare fan, so I've rarely seen any of those of his works that've been put on film. Mired in the bliss of almost total ignorance, I'll yet foolishly suggest that this Big Screen THE MERCHANT OF VENICE is perhaps the most sumptuous cinematic adaptation of any of the Bard's plays to date.

If you're completely without Cultcha and you don't know the plot, it's late 16th century Venice and the import-export merchant Antonio (Jeremy Irons) borrows 3,000 gold ducats from the Jewish moneylender Shylock (Al Pacino). The money goes to Antonio's chum Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes), who'll use it to impress and win the hand of the Babe of his dreams, the orphaned heiress Portia (Lynn Collins). But, Antonio suffers ruinous business setbacks and can't repay. So Shylock, remembering the public contempt shown to him by Antonio in the past and recently humiliated by the desertion of his only daughter to a Christian lover,...

The Quality of Mercy
Shakespeare's plays are full of the stuff of Humanity and Life: Love, Hate, Revenge, Death, Jealousy, etc. But very few of his plays have all of these. "The Merchant of Venice" (Il Mercante di Venezia) is one. And Michael Radford's film of "TMOV" is bubbling over, roiling and rocking with the Stuff of Life: though considered one of Shakespeare's comedies, this version is a very somber and dark reading of the play: a very, very dark comedy.
Anyone filming or staging a Shakespeare play is faced with a dilemma: What do I do about the Language? Radford has directed his actors to speak in a natural and conversational manner yet they do not forget to savor the beauty or ignore the eloquence of the Shakespearean verse.
Portia's "The Quality of Mercy" and Shylock's "Pound of Flesh" soliloquies and Lynn Collins' and Pacino's readings of them are breathtaking in their eloquence, delicate phrasing and common sense rationality: they continue to have real power...the power to move...

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Refusenik

Great documentary
Very important part of the history that should not be forgotten. This documentary should be a part of history lessons on former Soviet Union and human rights movement.





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Planes Trains & Automobiles [Blu-ray]

It is ironic that the best movie that John Hughes made wasn't a teen movie
When I think of "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" I smile. It is an absolutely wonderful movie. Yes, it is regarded as a comedy but when I think of it I think of it as more of a drama. The jokes don't get old. This is probably my favorite comedy of all time. Hughes takes the traveling nightmare genre to a whole new level. It's more a triumph in script writing than anything

For those who don't already know Planes, Trains and Automobiles is simple in its approach. Everything that can go wrong does. It's a comic routine that can be funny, but here it is a trip to hysterical. The plot is simple enough as well. Neal Page (Steve Martin) is on his way home for Thanksgiving. He's your typical businessman that works in New York and has a family he wants to see in Chicago. The only problem is everything from delayed flights to ripped up car tickets happen on the way. Only worsening matters, Del Griffith (John Candy), is along for the ride. An annoying shower curtain ring salesman, Neal...

You'll be doin' the Mess Around 'cause THOSE AREN'T PILLOWS!
A stellar performance from Steve Martin and the late, great John Candy.

I don't know where that guys doing the Editorial Reviews are coming from, this movie is great!

Steve Martin is stuffy ad executive Neil "I can take anything" Page and John Candy is the bungling but warm-hearted shower-curtain-ring guy (I know what you mean), Del "Extra set of fingers" Griffith. We follow this mismatched pair half way across the States and back again as they encounter one crisis after another. As the title says, our heros travel whatever way they can to get to Chicago- from planes to trains to cars.

One of the funniest scenes is when after Del gets his coat caught behind the driver's seat, panics and sends the car on a tailspin causing him to go the wrong way down the Interstate. We see their car get caught between two semis. During the squeeze, Neil looks and sees Del as the Devil, complete with pitchfork and horns.

In all, this movie is great! You will...

Here's what's on it
For those of you thinking about buying this new DVD version, here are the extras on it: 3 featurettes ("Getting There is Half the Fun: The Story of Planes Trains and Automobiles", "John Hughes for Adults", "John Candy"), and a deleted scene ("Airplane Food").

Not bad, but would have liked to see more deleted scenes since apparently Hughes had a 3 hour version of this movie. Maybe those will come out eventually.

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DeathShip (Remastered Widescreen Edition)

DEATH SHIP is not GHOST SHIP
DEATH SHIP is not GHOST SHIP. GHOST SHIP is a game. DEATH SHIP is real.

This is one of my favorite of the horror movies they used to show on Saturday afternoons when I was a kid. I have such fond memories of it that I bought the original movie poster a few years back. I've worn my VHS to a thin strip and I'm so glad that it now has a proper remastered DVD release, but I'm almost worried about seeing a cleaned up, sharper version! The "original", shown-on-TV copy I grew up seeing was so distorted and darkened that you could barely see the ash covered walls in the interior of the ship. Like NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, something about the poor duplications of the film seemed to make it better - more seedy - more disturbing. Regardless of my nostalgia, I'm sure the remastered version won't disappoint...

A grim trip to sea worth your time..
Scorpion Releasing continues with their next exciting genre release, this time a real classic in the form of a lesser known violent ghost story at sea, Death Ship.

Featuring the always welcome George Kennedy (whom would go on to further 80s horror fare - see the excellent Just Before Dawn) and the ever familiar Richard Crenna, this is a very original horror movie which tells the tale of a group of shipwrecked survivors that happen upon a rusted out old abandoned ship from the 1930's. They go aboard, as it seems like a chance for survival from the open sea, but they soon realize they are in far more danger on the Death Ship!

While low on atmosphere, this film still does have some - and it's effective. The Nazi element is unsettling and gives cause to the paranormal violence that the survivors have to face. There is a quite memorable scene with the beautiful Victoria Burgoyne in the shower, when a large amount of blood ruins her day. Pretty awesome...

a huanted nazi ghostship... OH, SOOOOO GOOD!
i first saw deathship in a cinema back, somewhere in the late 1970's. i love haunted ship and train movies and, i have seen alot of them! deathship is hands down the BEST of them!
george kennedy prformances of the "bipolar" captains is some of the acting of his career.
sorry folks, i'm not giving away any spoilers to this damn good movie.
folow up deathship by seeing the thai movie deathtrain... you will be so overjoyed that you did so!

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Red vs. Blue: Season 10

The greatest season as of yet
This season was the most enjoyable for me, especially the ending. It might not have the same amount of laughs as the earlier seasons have had, but the new animation and action scenes coupled with the emotional journeys of the characters make this a more well-rounded story with a bigger pay-off.

The previous season didn't sit well with me primarily because the main characters whom we have come to love over the years, were not funny for the most part. *MINOR SPOILER* They were just parodies of themselves inside the Epsilon unit, but still their comedy was way off. However, season 9's action taking place in the past was what really made the story interesting, and it is that same action that carries forward into season 10. Thankfully, the present day plot has resumed being funny as well.

Another great return for the season is the music of Trocadero. They were the ones who originally made the music for Red Vs Blue but recently had been replaced with Jeff Williams and...

Better to get it from the Roosterteeth.com
I purchased this from Amazon because I have prime with free shipping. This was a mistake. In this version of the Blu-ray, you get the movie, outtakes and commentary. If you get it from the store at Roosterteeth.com, you get a second disk packed with special features. Don't get me wrong, this season is fantastic, but if you are like me and like to watch the behind the scenes and other special features, get it from Roosterteeth.com You might have to spend a little more, but it is worth it, and all the proceeds go to supporting Roosterteeth.

One of the best sci fi/comedy/action movies ever
The season is great with its amazing story line and characters,it's stunning visual effects,and its hilarious jokes that flow out of funny conversations,it leaves it's mark as a great season.even elijah wood is in it!if you want to laugh and be thrilled then you need to see this.it's Roosterteeth's(the creators)best season ever.of all time.

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Louder than a Bomb

Louder Than A Bomb
It never opened in more than four theaters, and it didn't receive a whole lot of press, so there's a good chance you never heard of this engrossing documentary. Louder Than A Bomb depicts the journeys of four high school slam poetry teams in the Chicago area as they prepare for the largest youth slam in the world, profiling individual backstories and attempting to capture the creative processes that drive the students. While it's a bit of a niche subject, and while the overarching themes are somewhat familiar, the talent on display and the heartwarming stories portrayed succeed in lifting the spirits so effectively that the film is worth watching. If you're looking for an engaging and inspirational film peppered with charming personalities and stunningly delivered poetry, definitely give Louder Than A Bomb a chance.

LTAB is an exhilarting event.
I first watched this documentary at Louder Than a Bomb's first event of the festival called Crossing the Street where everyone from various cities to do one thing which is poetry in 2010, where I first started slamming as a poet, and honestly this is the most enthralling documentary. Ever since the first time i participated at LTAB (Louder than a Bomb) i was hooked and I now participate in the college slma. I recommend everyone to watch this film to understand many youth, who love poetry.

Made me like poetry
A magical documentary, a moving 100 minutes of a story full of emotion, of people, of words. OF WORDS that make you jump in you chair, leave you with your mouth open, make you clap like you are there, in the crowd.
You realize maybe how many things you have not written in your life!
A must watch really!!!!!

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Love Etc.

Wonderful Look at Love Without Sentimentality
I had no expectations of this documentary, but I was blown away by it. Five parallel stories of different aspects and stages of love and the search for love, rendered elegantly and without sentimentality. Exquisite editing, beautiful cinematography, and profoundly moving but believable stories make this, for me, one of the best documentaries I've seen in a long time. I was impressed with the honesty of it, done without the slightest degree of moralizing. It really makes you think hard about all the love around you.

Wowie!Loved it!
Wow! What a wonderful treat.This docu showed the good, bad, and the reality of falling and staying in love. From the harshness of young love, to the tenderness of a caring spouse taking care of his ailing wife,this docu kept me riveted from start to finish. It left me wanting more, like a great book, you did not want it to end......

An overlooked gem!
Love Etc. is a beautifully directed documentary that offers a realistic look at how several couples function in their romantic relationships. I was touched by the honesty of the participants. Candid, poignant, and intriguing!!

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Being Julia

"I'm utterly exhausted and I need holiday."
Annette Bening has one of her best roles as the aging stage star, Julia Lambert. Set in 1938 London, the film follows Julia's exploits as she attempts to find some meaning in her drama-filled life. Her relationship with her husband (Jeremy Irons) has always been "open," so she decides to have a fling with a young American (Shaun Evans, who is actually English). Unfortunately, what was meant to be a fun lark turns into something more serious, threatening to upset Julia's life completely, especially when the lovely young Avice Crichton (Judy Punch) enters the picture. However, Julia is far too strong to become a second-string player in her own life, leading to some delicious retribution.

"Being Julia" is a very enjoyable movie with some spark and playfulness not always seen in period films. Bening of course is quite stunning, and she brilliantly portrays her character's late-in-life personal growth. She deservedly won a slew of acting awards for the role, including a...

Benning at her absolute best.
This film plays homage to the lost age of British stage Divas and a time (1930's) when film acting was still viewed with snobbishness and the stage was a world of riotously overbearing performers. Benning is perfectly cast in the lead and is every inch the slighty unhinged stage Goddess. Speaking as a Brit I also have to say that her accent is utterly perfect, it surpasses Rene Zelweiger in her Bridget Jones role; of whom it has to be said, did brilliantly.

The film is very much the telling of a midlife crisis, coupled with the fear of fading stardom. The story takes place in the closing years of the 1930's, when European politics loomed large and cast an ugly shadow over British life. The story of Julia herself, is the life of a woman who has honed her craft of flambouyant acting so superbly, neither she, her social circle nor us as the audience is ever entirely sure of the boundry between real Julia and Julia the actress. Initially this pampered Madam is hilariously...

Just how should one grow old?
With the Oscar buzz for Annette Benning and its focus on the theatre, I felt that this movie would end up being a deep drama. Instead, it was more of a farce and a clever exploration of how acting an alter one's personality.

Annette Benning's character, Julia, is an accomplished actress who wrestles with boredom while seeking to escape age and the potential diminishing of her powers. She needs her status as a grand actress even as she is bored by that status and wonders what will become of her should she lose her youth. Early in the movie, she throws a tantrum and demands that her husband end the run of "Farewell My Love" that she stars in. But a young American appears on the scene and she begins an affair seeking to capture her lost youth.

For me, the movie was hard to care about at first. Mostly, this was because I had a hard time rooting for any of the characters to succeed. Nobody seemed to be a postive presence. Julia? Didn't dig her, too entitled. The...

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The Man Without A Past

Life Offers Much If You Want to Live (4.5 stars)
"A Man without a Past", a 2002 masterpiece of Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki, may well be his best film to date. It relates the story of a welder (Markku Peltola), who is one night coming home from work and while resting on a bench he is assaulted by a group of muggers and beaten almost to death. Yet he regains consciousness, but only to find he does not remember who he is, what's his name -- anything.

Subsequently, the man is taken care of by a community of very-close-to-homeless people, who, nevertheless, lend a helping hand, together with a local Salvation Army group. The man even starts a relationship with a shy, devout Army member Irma (Kati Outinen).

"A Man without a Past" is a film about humanity, about what makes us human, about that we all are different but everyone of us can be an asset to those around us -- and it needn't necessarily be a money aid. The people in this movie help and get the help back. Kaurismaki's directing is up to par with another European great,...

A Finnish delight!
THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST is a wonderful, lonely, and quiet film about M, a man who has suffered amnesia after being beaten and robbed while sleeping on a public park bench in the Finnish capital of Helsinki. He does not remember his name, or know anything about his past. But instead of going on a crusade to discover his true identity, he simply goes with the flow of life. After being pronounced dead at the hospital he wakes up in a deserted industrial area near the sea and is befriended by its local inhabitants. But M soon finds that his attempts to re-enter society is strongly hindered by the fact that he doesn't remember his name. Instead of being defeated M continues to go about living his life. He eventually rents an abandoned container car and plants a small vegetable garden outside his front door. M develops a new life while leaving the old one behind.

During this film there is a lack of any type of facial expressions or emotions of the characters, even when they are speaking to...

Quiet, Quirky and a Little Sly
This Finnish film may not be for everyone. Though nominated in 2002 for an Oscar for best foreign film, I don't think it got much play here. It's a quiet movie about a guy who is beaten in a park in Helsinki right after getting off a train. The hospital thinks he's dead, but he staggers out, gradually recovers, and can't remember a thing. He meets a number of people, most of whom help him in some way or another. He meets a Salvation Army woman and a relationship developes.

It's hard to describe this movie. The dialoque is often funny, but delivered absolutely deadpan. There is no excitement, but a rich development of story and relationships through incidents that happen to the lead character or that he causes to happen. The two leads, Markku Peltoa and Kati Outinen, are adults and look it. There's no Hollywood handsomeness about either of them. The structure of the movie is a gem of economy. One scene ends and the film moves briskly on to the next scene. No extended, unnecessary...

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